Small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have a crucial role to play in sustainability, despite some thinking they are too small to make an impact.  SMEs make up around 90% of businesses globally; while individual SMEs may have a smaller impact compared to larger corporations, their collective action can have a significant effect on environmental impact.   

In this episode, our host Will Richardson explores the question: are you ever too small to make a difference? To shed light on this topic, he is joined by two experts who assist SMEs on their sustainability journeys: Sarah Whale, Managing Director of Profit Impact, and Andy Hawkins, Chief People, Planet, and Purpose Officer at Business on Purpose.  

This episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast is sponsored by Good Citizens.   

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Highlights: 

• Sarah and Andy both share the belief that no business is too small to make a difference. 
• Sarah emphasises that it starts with individuals and their actions, regardless of whether they belong to a big corporation or work independently. 
• Andy illustrates this by using an analogy of playing football without a goalkeeper, where even individual contributions add up to make a significant difference. He cites historical figures like Nelson Mandela and Florence Nightingale who made a tremendous impact despite being part of a bigger system.  
• Many business owners find it challenging to make sustainability a top priority. Sarah and Andy agree that time restraints, prioritisation, and limited resources are common challenges for SMEs.  
• Will points out that some businesses may consider financial constraints as a reason for not prioritising sustainability, however engaging in sustainable practices can strengthen a business’s financial position.  
• Andy adds that B Corps have reported positive financial outcomes, trading at 28% above GDP. He plans to conduct research to further investigate these benefits and explore the barriers that prevent businesses from measuring and improving their social and environmental impact.  

Resources: 

Profit Impact 

Business on Purpose 

B Corp Certification: Benefits and Requirements 

B Lab Global 

Innovate UK 

John Brown (Don’t Cry Wolf) 

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Mentioned in this episode:

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